Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Here is an example of how Charles Simeon (a Calvinist) conversed with the elderly John Wesley (an Arminian):

Sir, I understand that you are called an Arminian; and I have been sometimes called a Calvinist; and therefore I suppose we are to draw daggers. But before I consent to begin the combat, with your permission I will ask you a few questions. Pray, Sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature, so depraved that you would never have thought of turning to God, if God had not first put it into your heart?

Yes, I do indeed.

And do you utterly despair of recommending yourself to God by anything you can do; and look for salvation solely through the blood and righteousness of Christ?

Yes, solely through Christ.

But, Sir, supposing you were at first saved by Christ, are you not somehow or other to save yourself afterwards by your own works?

No, I must be saved by Christ from first to last.

Allowing, then, that you were first turned by the grace of God, are you not in some way or other to keep yourself by your own power?

No.

What then, are you to be upheld every hour and every moment by God, as much as an infant in its mother's arms?

Yes, altogether.

And is all your hope in the grace and mercy of God to preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom?

Yes, I have no hope but in Him.

Then, Sir, with your leave I will put up my dagger again; for this is all my Calvinism; this is my election my justification by faith, my final perseverance: it is in substance all that I hold, and as I hold it; and therefore, if you please, instead of searching out terms and phrases to be a ground of contention between us, we will cordially unite in those things where in we agree.

Friday, September 25, 2009

I don't know how many of you read the blog posts of Kevin Swanson or listen to him on the radio...but here are a few excerpts from a post Kevin did recently on 'how to make judgements concerning the churches we attend and the ministries we connect with':

...All of us draw some conclusions concerning Focus on the Family, Answers in Genesis, Reasons to Believe, Desiring God Ministries, Christian Home Educators of Colorado, the PCA, the Southern Baptists, the ELCA, the Mennonite Brethren, the OPC, or New Life Church in Colorado Springs. If you have have any contact with or knowledge of a local church or ministry, usually you will draw some conclusion about that ministry. Most of us hold some sort of opinion on the importance, the value, or the impact the ministry bears upon the kingdom of God.

Occasionally, you will run into some Christian who assumes that outside of his local church at six friends, everybody else in the world is going to hell. Such perspectives smack of a puffed-up-edness and a love that doesn't quite hope enough about his brothers.

Well then, how should we make judgements concerning the churches we attend and the ministries we connect with? Here's my take on it...

1. Some churches and ministries will be stronger than others and produce more gold, silver, and precious stones after the fire burns than others...

2. Truth and love are equally important...you need '180% Proof' Truth and '180% Proof' Truthful Living. [I believe this is a play on words...180% proof meaning: the strongest you can find; not 80% above what is revealed in scripture.]

6. You will never know the true impact of a "reformation," a movement, a church denomination, a system of government, a methodology, and a message for at least 40-50 years. By their fruits you will know them, but after all the exciting conferences and building programs, and after the fire burns, only time will tell what the ministry really produced. And there will be no exceptions to the rule. All of us will be tested for the quality of work produced over a life time.

7. Nobody bats 1000...The idea is to make it as far up Omaha Beach as you can, before you are cut down by enemy fire. The battlefield is going to be a mess the whole way to the gates of heaven.

9. Oh, one more thing - whatever you do, don't choose to affiliate with proud ministries who think they are the best ministry in the world. And once you have tossed in your hat with some particular ministry, you will begin to see the sins and weaknesses latent within the organization. Because you are not closely affiliated with other ministries therefore, you have no idea how God is working there. So to assume that you are in the best church in the area is always well beyond your ability to discern. In the final analysis, you have no idea how much more love, joy, and peace are nurtured within your congregation compared to any other. Sure, you might know all doctrine and all knowledge, and have all faith so that you can remove more mountains than that other church down the street. But you can't tell me that you have 68% more love than they do.

These are my observations after participating in many different exciting Christian movements over a lifetime.

Of the 9 points he makes, I only copied portions of them and not all 9 so, to read this post in its entirety, click here.

Nonetheless, I hope the portions shared will remind us all...Do Not put anyone or anything up on a pedestal besides the Lord Jesus Christ!Enjoy these ministries, enjoy your church, and enjoy the edification received by fellow believers, but NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! exalt them higher than they should be.

This may seem obvious, but my concern is that in preaching and in counseling we are always drifting away from the spiritually obvious to the naturally desirable—especially if the naturally desirable “works.” We are spring-loaded in our sin to feel loved only if God endorses our desire to be made much of. Almost every human being loves to be made much of. And when it happens, we feel that we are being loved. How could something so pleasing not be love?

Here is the devastating warning from Jonathan Edwards 250 years ago:

True saints have their minds, in the first place, inexpressibly pleased and delighted with the sweet ideas of the glorious and amiable nature of the things of God. And this is the spring of all their delights, and the cream of all their pleasures. . . . But the dependence of the affections of hypocrites is in a contrary order: they first rejoice . . . that they are made so much of by God; and then on that ground, he seems in a sort, lovely to them.

This is my concern. Do we make clear to people over and over again that yes, they should feel loved because Christ died for them; and yes, they should feel loved because they are undeserving and he loves them anyway; and yes, they should feel loved because their sins are forgiven and God’s wrath is removed through Christ; but to what end? Died for while undeserving. Forgiven. Wrath removed. But to what end?

And just at this point, I wonder if many of our people are left thinking that what it means to be loved by God simply that he affirms their desire to be made much of. “Christ died for me to make much of me. He rescued me while undeserving to make much of me. He forgave me to make much of me. He removed his wrath to make much of me.” Oh how gloriously good this feels! What a precious gospel! And it’s all merely natural. There’s nothing supernatural about it. It looks like recovery and healing! It works. But at root, it is not “to the praise of the glory of his grace.” It’s all to the praise of the glory of his affirmation of me.

So my second implication is that feeling loved by God means feeling glad that God not only crushed his Son for me, but that he is now crushing every vestige of desire in my life that competes with the pleasure of the praise of the glory of his grace.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Getting a Complete EducationAdapted from "To Be Educated" by Carolyn C.

If I learn my ABCs, can read 600 words per minute, and canwrite with perfect penmanship,But have not learned how to communicate with the Designerof all language,My education is not complete.

If I have memorized addition facts, multiplication tables,and chemical formulas,But have never disciplined myself to hide God's Word in myheart,My education is not complete.

If I can classify animals by their family, genus, andspecies and can write a lengthy scientific paper that wins anaward,But have not been introduced to the Maker's purpose for allcreation,My education is not complete.

If I can recite the Gettysburg Address and the Preamble tothe Constitution,But have not been informed of the hand of God in the historyof our country,My education is not complete.

If I can play the piano, the violin, six other instruments,and can write music that moves men to tears,But have not learned to listen to the Director of theuniverse and worship Him,My education is not complete.

If I can run cross-country races, star in basketball, and do100 push-ups without stopping,But have never bent my will to do God's will,My education is not complete.

However, if one day I see the world as God sees it and cometo know Him Whom to know is life eternal, and glorify God byfulfilling His purpose for me,Then, my education is complete!

Posted by
Mrs. Burnsed

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Unfortunately, many people are dismissing the President's speech to the children on Tuesday as "generic". This is a very sad state of affairs!!! This speech was far from "generic". If they knew the philosophies and ideologies behind the speech, they wouldn't call it "generic" at all.

But, rather than take the time to explain all those presuppositions and then rebut the whole speech, I thought I would show you two quotes from his speech and then contrast that with an example from scripture about what an education should look like. Apart from his 'push for more academics in order to better serve the country', here are two of Obama's quotes...

"Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future."

"Today, I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education — and to do everything you can to meet them."

A contrast from scripture...

From childhood Timothy was taught that God controlled his destiny and God determined 'the goals' for his life. Here are a few other things Timothy was taught…

• Read, meditate on, and master the content of Scriptures.• Be an example in word, conduct, love, faith, and purity.• Challenge others who hear the Word to apply it in their daily lives which some times involved rebuke, warning, encouragement, or comfort.• Not neglect his spiritual gifts.• Instruct (teach) others boldly and lovingly.• Shun profane and idle babblings.• Pray. Fight the battle against the enemies of Christ.• Lead a quiet and peaceable life with all godliness and reverence.• Labor and suffer reproach.• Do nothing with partiality and prejudice.• Withdraw himself from certain kinds of people.• Be content and remember the brevity of this life.• Flee foolish and harmful lusts.• Not trust in riches.• Guard the Truth.• Not be ashamed to name the name of Jesus when afraid of potential persecution.• Teach other faithful men to teach.• Be diligent and present himself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.• Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, which lead to strife.• Not quarrel.• Be patient.• Be ready to preach in season and out of season.

This is obviously not an exhaustive list but it does show the different focus on how and what to educate our children with, as compared to today’s standard for education.

For Timothy’s childhood, eternal values and practical living skills were first and foremost, the academics were certainly needed in order to live out some of these charges but the focus of the education was not in the academics; it was in the weightiness of eternal things.

In today’s society, academics are pushed for the sake of building knowledge so that we can better serve man.

In Timothy’s day, academics seemed to be taught as way to help“conform the children into the image of Christ” that they may better serve the Lord… which in turn does help our fellow man, but in a completely different way.

Well, I hope this helps... If nothing else, I pray it will cause you to dig deeper into the philosophies and ideologies behind government-run education so that you are no longer fooled by smooth words.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Help! My mind is swimming with ideas for new posts!But I want to know what you are interested in. :)

What type of help\edification\encouragement are you looking for?

Here are a couple of ideas that I've been planning to blog about but what are your thoughts? What do you want to see the most?

Book Reviews

Bible Studies (on a variety of topics)

Doctrinal Views (Anthropology, Soteriology, Eschatology, etc...)

Edifying Quotes (from the Bible and other godly men\women)

Family Pics

Practical Arts (cooking, sewing, organizing, homeschooling)

Politics (what's going on in the world in general)

Preparedness for TEOWTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it)

Other____________________

Disclaimer: My goal with this blog is to use it as a means of ministry. When God saved me, He bestowed upon me a passionate love for His Word and an aspiration to share His truths with all who will listen. However, I am not God. I do not possess omniscience. In fact, I will probably fall short in a lot of areas. That's the nature of fallen man. So please, if I ever speak of 'biblical things', please check everything I say against scripture!!! If you find some error in me, please feel free to express it. You should express it. It's biblical to do so. Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Today, I thought I would take a break from 'heavy posts' and share one of life's simple delights...Food! Being that I am a country-girl through and through, most of my dishes DO NOT look like this one! However, sometimes a dish comes along that I really enjoy, and this is one of them :)

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on the throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him were two seraphs...and they were calling: "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty;the whole earth is full of His glory."I cried, "Woe is me!" "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."This Lord's day, I have a two-fold prayer right out of this passage from Isaiah 6...1) That the Body of Christ, like Isaiah, could behold the true majesty of our great King and His holiness, so much so that it causes us to...2) See our uncleaness and cry "Woe is me!"

The church in America for far too long has watered down the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have tried every way possible to make the 'lost' feel welcomed and comfortable but perhaps a lesson from this passage might be that...

If the church will hold up the holiness of God (meaning ALL His manifold perfections), instead of a multitude of programs, perhaps the people of this land would begin to get uncomfortable with their uncleaness.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

I was introduced to William Cowper through John Piper's audio series: Men Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy. It is truly one of his most awe-inspiring works. I highly recommend it!!!

For those of you who don't recognize the name...William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) wrote many hymns and religious poems, collaborating often with John Newton. Some of his other works you may recognize: "Oh, For A Closer Walk With God" and "There Is A Fountain". Today, I'd like to share one of my favorite poems and hymns with you...

The Difference Between Knowledge and WisdomWilliam Cowper

Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one,Have ofttimes no connexion. Knowledge dwellsIn heads replete with thoughts of other men;Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.Knowledge, a rude unprofitable mass,The mere materials with which Wisdom builds,Till smooth’d and squared and fitted to its place,Does but encumber whom it seems to enrich.Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much;Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.

God Moves in Mysterious Ways William Cowper

God moves in a mysterious way,His wonders to perform;He plants his footsteps in the sea,And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable minesOf never failing skill,He treasures up his bright designs,And works his sovereign will.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Reverend John Witherspoon, in a Fast Day Sermon called for by the Continental Congress, in 1776 stated:

"It is in the man of piety and inward principle that we may expect to find the uncorrupted patriot, the useful citizen, and the invincible soldier, - God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable, and the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both."

Posted by
Mrs. Burnsed

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

By His Grace...

"The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance." Psalm 16:6
Jesus Christ has saved me by His grace; not because of any good thing in me but because of His great love. Since that glorious day, He has graciously made me a happily married mother of four, whose greatest desire is to glorify God with my new life, through biblically fulfilling my roles as a woman, wife, mother, homemaker, and evangelist; by loving and fearing God supremely, trusting and serving Him exclusively and deriving all pleasure, happiness, and satisfaction in Him.
It is my earnest prayer that this blog will at all times reflect my thankfulness to God for all that He has done, is doing, and will do. TO HIM BE ALL THE GLORY ALWAYS.

Not for my own glory, but for the glory of God...

SAGE, n. A wise CHRISTIAN woman; a woman of gravity and discernment; particularly, a woman venerable for years, and known as a woman of sound judgment and prudence; as a sage counselor.

"The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil." Proverbs 15:28

In Titus chapter 2 there is a beautiful picture of this sage-like 'older woman' coming alongside and mentoring the 'younger woman'. Since I am currently considered one of the 'younger women', the purpose 'I aspire to' is clearly given...

"Older women likewise, are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5

My Prayer For You

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.Philippians 1:9-11

Ministry \ Blog Disclaimer

No ministry \ blog is perfect because they are creations of imperfect humans...and mine is no exception :)
Although I've tried to list only those ministries which are in line with biblical principles, there are some that I do not agree with 100%.
However, I do not feel the need to "throw the baby out with the bathwater". So my suggestion would be to visit each site with caution...gleaning Godly wisdom where you can and disregarding (or reproving, if need be) that which is not according to God's Word.
"Test all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil". 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22